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Dr. Elana Ashley

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DR. Elana Ashley

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NORTHBROOK LIVING

NOVEMBER 2020

How I Created My Anti-Bullying Campaign and Where It Is Headed

by

Dr. Elana Ashley

Over three decades ago, I decided to move into the Chicago area. One of my first jobs was with Highland Park Hospital. With a doctoral degree in Ugaritology from New York University, this connection was really great because my dissertation dealt with “healers.” The hospital administrators had purchased the rights to a licensed health and safety series called KidSafe, which focused on child abuse prevention programs for young children. For six years, accompanied by my friend and colleague, Puppet Ellie Elephant, I talked with kids about coping strategies for abusive issues in schools, homes and in the community. To add a more personal touch to the programs, I created posters for display and wrote poems and songs that Ellie and I recited and/or sang for enthusiastic audiences.

During those six years, I expanded my program to include older students and adults. Based on issues from the news and learning from students, I started Great Imaginings, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. I researched and presented new presentations on such subjects as Self-Esteem, Character Development, Drug Education and Conflict Resolution-Mediation. Throughout the years, I presented programs to more than 300 Chicago Public Schools, as well as schools in the surrounding suburbs.

Years back, I partnered with Glenview Cable to create, co-produce, and host a 4-part television series called “My Hometown.” Accompanied by Spokespuppet Splunkunio Splunkey and Ellie Elephant, I visited the Glenview post office, police department, fire department and The Grove, interviewing an employee at each location or inviting the interviewee to the cable studio. It was lots of work, but at the same time, lots of fun!

As I was zooming along this busy pathway, I decided to put the issues I taught into the form of books for children and their families, as well as for students and teachers. I chose the name “Splunkunio Splunkey Detective and Peacemaker” as the name of my children’s series. The series includes the themes of friendship, teamwork and problem-solving.

In continuing the children’s series, I noticed the uglier sides of humanity: domestic violence; shootings and consequential deaths, bullying and cyber-bullying — sometimes resulting in suicide. This helped me with the second book in the series: “Case Two: Big Bully Holly Howler” — a story about the transformation of a bully into a friend! This book focuses on a core foundation of high, ethical values and a positive, strong character, which becomes the base for how we should communicate and interact with each other.

My recent book for adults, “Bullying and Prevention Strategies: Interview with Educator and Author Dr. Elana Ashley,” became a wonderful lead-in for “Big Bully Holly Howler” because I created my introduction to the subject of bullying. The issues I discussed included a definition of bullying; reasons why people bully; how bullies choose their victims; detecting warning signs of victims and bullies; suggesting varied strategies for coping with abuse and encouraging healthy, safe methods for raising children; building self-esteem; focusing on high, ethical values; and developing and putting into practice conflict resolution skills for better communication and behavioral interaction.

Understanding these key elements allows people to combine the best of their ideas and efforts with the best skills and efforts of others in working together to truly create a better, safer, and healthier world in which friendship, love and peace reign supreme.

For the past seventeen months, I have been focusing on an art exhibition to be presented in 2021 under the sponsorship of my newer company Dream Image Press, LLC, and the North Shore Art League, displayed at the Winnetka Community House. My one-woman exhibition, “The Unveiling of The Universe and Beyond,” includes sixty plus paintings and mixed media which tell the story from the beginning of space, time and history, up through present-day life on Planet Earth. The same themes continue as I passionately express my understanding of the growth of life forms, especially the growth of modern-day men and women. Each of us must make important personal choices. as well as family choices so that all of us can live, learn and love with respect and dignity.

Feel free to be in touch with me by e-mail: info@DrElanaAshley.com or call 847,480.8998 to learn more about my upcoming art exhibition in 2021. Entry to the exhibition will be FREE and open to the public. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. All paintings displayed at the exhibition are not for sale. As the artist, I hope to take my exhibition to many other communities. If you learn of organizations that might be interested in having my art exhibition at their location, please contact me! Many thanks!

Everybody, stay safe and healthy! Enjoy the holiday season!